The Ministration of Publick Baptism of Infants,

To be Used in the Church.

Due notice, normally of at least a week, shall be given before a child is brought to
the church to be baptized.

For
every child to be baptized there shall be not fewer than three godparents, of whom
at least two shall be of the same sex as the child and of whom at least one shall be of the
opposite sex; save that, when three cannot be conveniently had, one godfather and one
godmother shall suffice. Parents may be godparents for their own children provided
that the child shall have at least one other godparent. The godparents shall be persons
who have been baptized and confirmed and will faithfully fulfil their responsibilities
both by their care for the child committed to their charge and by the example of their
own godly living. Nevertheless the Minister shall have power to dispense with the
requirement of confirmation in any case in which in his judgement need so
requires.

The Minister shall instruct the parents or guardians of an
infant to be admitted to Holy Baptism that the same responsibilities rest on them as are
in the service of Holy Baptism required of the godparents.

No Minister shall refuse or, save for the purpose of preparing or instructing the
parents or guardians or godparents, delay to baptize any infant within his cure that is
brought to the church to be baptized, provided that due notice has been given and the
provisions relating to godparents are observed. If the Minister shall refuse or unduly
delay to baptize any such infant, the parents or guardians may apply to the Bishop of
the diocese who shall, after consultation with the Minister, give such directions as he
thinks fit.

The Minister, before proceeding to the Baptism, shall have satisfied himself that the
child presented to him has not already been baptized.

At the time appointed the godfathers and godmothers and the parents or guardians
with the child must be ready at the Font, and the Priest coming to the Font (which is
then to be filled with pure Water,) and standing there, shall proceed as
follows.

EARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in
sin: and that our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except
he be regenerate and born anew of Water and of the Holy Ghost: I beseech you to call
upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will
grant to this Child that thing which by nature he cannot
have; that he may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made a lively member of the
same.

Then shall the Priest say,

Let us pray.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy didst save
Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the
children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy Baptism;
and by the Baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst
sanctify Water to the mystical washing away of sin: We beseech thee, for thine infinite
mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon this Child; wash him and
sanctify him with the Holy Ghost; that he, being delivered
from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being stedfast in
faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this
troublesome world, that finally he may come to the land of everlasting
life, there to reign with thee world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

LMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of
all that flee to thee for succour, the life of them that believe, and the resurrection of the
dead: We call upon thee for this Infant, that he, coming to
thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of his sins by spiritual
regeneration. Receive him, 0 Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you: So give now unto us that ask; let us that seek find; open the gate
unto us that knock; that this Infant may enjoy the everlasting benediction
of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast
promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the people stand up, and the Priest shall say,

Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint Mark, in the tenth Chapter, at
the thirteenth Verse.

HEY brought young children to Christ, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

After the Gospel is read , the Minister shall make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel.
ELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ,
that he commanded the children to be brought unto him; how he blamed those that
would have kept them from him; how he exhorteth all men to follow their innocency.
Ye perceive how by his outward gesture and deed he declared his good will toward
them; for he embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will likewise favourably receive
this present Infant; that he will embrace him
with the arms of his mercy; that he will give unto him the blessing of
eternal life, and make him partaker of his everlasting kingdom.
Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards
this Infant, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; and nothing doubting but that
he favourably alloweth this charitable work of ours in bringing this Infant
to his holy Baptism; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say,

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee
humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace,
and faith in thee: Increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Give
thy Holy Spirit to this Infant, that he may be born again, and
be made an heir of everlasting salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Then shall the Priest speak unto the Godfathers and Godmothers on this
wise.
EARLY beloved, ye have brought this Child here to be
baptized, ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive
him, to release him of his sins, to sanctify him
with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have
heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his Gospel to grant all these
things that ye have prayed for: which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and
perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, this Infant must
also faithfully, for his part, promise by you that are his
sureties, (until he come of age to take it upon himself,) that
he will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's
holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments.

OST thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his
works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and
the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?Answer. I renounce them all.

Minister.

OST thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth?
And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was
conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise
again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the
Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the
quick and the dead?
And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick Church; the
Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and
everlasting life after death?Answer. All this I stedfastly believe.

Minister.

ILT thou be baptized in this faith?Answer. That is my desire.

Minister.

ILT thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments,
and walk in the same all the days of thy life?Answer. I will.

Then shall the Priest say,

MERCIFUL God, grant that the old Adam in this Child may be so buried,
that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen.
Grant that all carnal affections may die in him, and that all things
belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen.
Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to
triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen.
Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry
may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy
mercy, 0 blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things, world without end.
Amen.

LMIGHTY, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus
Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water
and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all
nations, and baptize them In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify this
Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child, now
to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Then the Priest shall take the Child into his hands, and shall say to the Godfathers
and Godmothers, Name this Child. And then naming it after them (if they
shall certify him that the Child may well endure it) he shall dip it in the Water discreetly
and warily, saying, I baptize thee in the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

But if they certify that the Child is weak, it shall suffice to pour Water upon it,
saying the foresaid words, I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then the Priest shall say,

E receive this Child into the congregation of
Christ's flock, *and do sign him with the sign of the Cross, in token that
hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified,
and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end.
Amen.

* here the Priest shall make a Cross upon the
Child's forehead.

Then shall the Priest say,

EEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child is
regenerate, and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us give thanks unto
Almighty God for these benefits; and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that
this Child may lead the rest of his life according to this
beginning.

Then shall be said, all kneeling;

URFather, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Then shall the Priest say,

E yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased
thee to regenerate this Infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive
him for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate
him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that
he, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried
with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of
sin; and that, as he is made partaker of the death of thy Son,
he may also be partaker of his resurrection; so that finally, with the
residue of thy holy Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting
kingdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then all standing up, the Priest shall say to the Godfathers and
Godmothers this Exhortation following.

ORASMUCH as this Child hath promised by you
his sureties to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and
to serve him: ye must remember, that it is your parts and duties to see that this
Infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn
vow, promise, and profession, he hath here made by you. And that
he may know these things the better, ye shall call upon him to hear
Sermons; and chiefly ye shall provide, that he may learn the Creed, the
Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in the vulgar tongue, and all other things
which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health; and that this
Child may be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life;
remembering always, that Baptism doth represent unto us our profession; which is, to
follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him; that, as he died,
and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto
righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections and daily
proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.

Then shall he add and say,

E are to take care that this Child be brought to the
Bishop to be confirmed by him, so soon as he can say the Creed, the
Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in the vulgar tongue, and be further
instructed in the Church-Catechism set forth for that purpose.

It is certain by God's Word, that children which are baptized, dying before they
commit actual sin, are undoubtedly saved.

To take away all scruple concerning the use
of the sign of the Cross in Baptism; the true explication thereof, and the just reasons for
the retaining of it, may be seen in the xxxth Canon, first published in the Year
MDCIV.